The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-05

and ali Princeton, and all New Brunswick,
and all Edinburgh, and all the theological
institutions in Christendom- Is il not
better to 60 up to the very headquarters Of
knowledges
Does not our common sense teach Us that
it is better TO be at the center than TO We clear
out on the rim of the wheel, holding nervous
Nv fast to the tire lest we be suddenly hurled
into light and eternal felicity Through all
kinds of optical instruments trying to peer in
through the cracks and the keyholes Of
heaven-afraid that both doors of the celes-
tial mansion win be swung wide open before
our e11t-anced vision-rushing about among
the apothecary shops OF this world, wonder
ing If this is good for rheumatism and that Is
good for neuralgia, and something else Is
good for bad cough, lest we be suddenly
ushered into land of everlasting health
where the inhabitant never says: Il am
sickn
What fools we all are to prefer the circum-
ference to the center. What dreadful thing
it would be If we should be suddenly ushered
from this wintry world into the May-time or
chards Of heaven, and If our pauperism of sin
and sorrow should be suddenly broken up by
presentation Of an emperors castle sur
rounded by parks with springing fountains
walk two and two.
We are like persons standing on the cold
steps of the National picture gallery in Lon
don, under umbrellas. in the rain, afraid to
go in amid the Turner's, and the Titians, and
the Raphaels. come to them and say:
%Wby don't you go inside the galleryl" "Oh,"
they say, I'VE don't know whether we can get
IMP say, Don't you see the door is openp
"Yes,n they say, shut we have been so long
on these cold steps, we are so attached to
them we don't like to leave. HBut, say, at
is so much brighter and more beautiful in the
gallery, you had better go in" NO" they
say, @we know exactly how it is out here, but
we don't know how it is in there" Oh, let US
be glad that we are one year nearer the scene
that explains all and irradiates ALL
In 1885 the French resolved that at Client
they would have kind Of musical demon
stration that had never been heard of. 1t
would be made up of the chimes of bells and
the discharge Of cannon. The experiment
was perfect success. What with the ring
ing of the bells and the report of the
ordnance, the city trembled and the hills
shook with the triumphal march that was as
strange as it was overwhelming. With a
! more glorious accompaniment will Gods dear
children go into their high residence,
when the trumpets shall sound and
the last day has come. At the signal
given, the bells Of the towers, and of
the lighthouses, and OF the cities, will
strike their sweetness into last chime that
shall ring into the heavens and float off upon
the sea- joined by the boom of bursting mine
and magazine, augmented by all the cathe-
dral towers of heaven-the harmonies OF
earth and the symphonies of the celestial
realm making up one great triumphal march,
fit to celebrate the ascent of the redeemed to
where they shall shine as the stars for ever
and for ever. With such anticipations, we
can look back without single regret upon
the flying years, and forward with exulta-
ton to the time when the archangel, with
one foot ON the sea and the other foot on the
| land, shall swear by Him that iveth for ever
and ever, that time shall be no longer.